Automobile-engine



J. WVHITCOMB AND G. 051; GRAY.

' AUTOMOBILE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1919.

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J. WHITCOMB AND a. 0.1. GRAY.

AUTOMOBILEENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 0611231199- Patented May 31, 1921.

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J. WHIITCO'MB AND G. 0.1. GRAY.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocr.23.1919.

1,380,088, Patented May 31,1921.

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Wu-Mm, James a 100mb JAMES wnrroons AND canon) o. J. GRAY, or nasrme's, NEBRASKA; sari) re: 1411. come ASSIGNOR;OF onnnxerrraro 'CHANCIE ELMER corrnnrz, or nasrmes,

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Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMOBILE-ENGINE.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed October 23, 1919. Serial No. 332,631.

T 0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, JAMES WHrrooMn and GAROLD C. J. GRAY, citizens of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Adamsand Stateof Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile engines of the internal combustion type, and has particular reference to general unprovements in the construction of such engines whereby the cost of construction and mamtenance is reduced and the working efiiciency of the engine increased.

One object of the invention is to provide an engine construction in which the parts supporting or containing the working elements, such as the cylinders, pistons, crank shaft, etc., aretseparable and permit. of the easy and quick assemblage of such parts in erecting the engine as well as their ready and more convenient removal or disassemblage when it is necessary to clean, repair, regrind, rebore or replace worn, broken or impefect parts or to completely overhaul or take down the -engine.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the working parts are more completely incased and protected from dirt, dust or other foreign .sub-

. stances and injury,'-whereby more efiicient lubrication of certain parts is obtained as Well as higher power from the impulses of the explosive charges, and whereby greater simplicity of manufacture is secured.

- With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, with parts broken away, looking towardone side of the engine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with parts broken away and in section, looking toward the opposite side of the engine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the engine.

In the practical embodiment of our invention as shown in the drawings, wherein we have illustrated a motor of the overhead- Valve type, we provide an engine body 1 comprising a crank casing 2 and a cylinder casing 3, the said body being provided at its base with supporting and bolting flanges 4 whereby it is adapted to be secured to the engine body on chassis of the vehicle. The crank and cylinder casings are properly divided on vertical and horizontallines to cylinder casing are divided longitudinally along a vertical line, as indicated at 5, and are also divided horizontally on one side of the vertical center thereof alongthe lines 6 and 7 to provide removable sections 8 and 9 at one' side of the engine body, the opposite slde walls of the crank casing, cylinder casing and the bottom portion of the crank caslng below the division line 7 being preferably integral in a unitary structure. Bolts or other suitable fastening members 10 and 11 are provided-for respectively securing the removable sections of the crank casing and cylinder casing to the fixed portions thereof, whereby the parts are normally, held detachably assembled. It will be un-' portions 13 to receive bearing sleeves 1'4- journaled within said bearing openings and having flanges 15 fitting within the countersinks 13 to hold said bearing sleeves from longitudinal displacement. The sleeves 14 form bearings for the ends of the crank shaft 16 extending longitudinally within the crank casing 2 and outwardly through the end walls thereof, one end of said shaft being provided with the usual fly wheel 17 The shaft 16 is provided with the usual cranks 18 and wrist pins 19 for connection with the connecting rods 20 to which pistons 21 are attached.

The pistons 21 are arranged to operate within cylinders 22, which are removably fitted within the cylinder casing 3. v The respective cylinders 22 are separate from and independent of each other, each consistthe ing of a substantially spool-shaped body,

said body comprising a main cylindrical portion of uniform diameter and having annular end flanges or enlargements 23 of greater diameter than the cylindrical main portion. The said end portions 23 of the substantially spool-shaped cylinders fit Within circular seats 2% formed at the top and bottom of the valve casing by semi-circular bosses 25 provided upon and projecting i11- wardly from the fixed and removable sections of the cylinder casing, which bosses are brought into mating and seat forming relation to receive and clamp the ends of the cylinders when the removable section 9 is applied and bolted in position.

With the exception of the inwardly proecting bosses 25 the inner faces of theiixed and removable portions of the cylinder casing 3 may. be smooth-surfaced or cored out to form a water circulating chamber 26,

with the terminal portions of which com-' rounicate the flow and return pipes 2'? and 28 connecting the'opposite ends and bottom and top portions of said chamber with the and removable walls of the casing, and cross channels between the cylinders. and connectmg said longitudinal channels, whereby the water is adapted to completely surround and flow around the cylinders and thus rapidly absorb heat therefrom and keep the same cool. Each cylinder is thus individually cooled by water circulating around the same whereby liability of overheating of the cylinders is much more efiectually prevented than is possible in enginesof ordinary construction/ I llhe cylinder casing and cylinders are closed at their upper ends by a cylinder head 29 comprising an oblong rectangular block, plate or casting restingupon the upper surface of the cylinder casing and detachahly secured thereto loy screws or other suitable fastenin 30. This cylinder head is formed with fue inlet passages 31 and exhaust passages 32. respectively communicating with inlet and exhaustports 33 and 3d communi eating through the bottom of the cylinder head with the upper ends of the cylinders,

an inlet and a coiiperating exhaust port communicating'with each cylinder and the cylinder head losing provided with an openet eee an p ts to re eive the park any Worn arts.

which are fastened to the detachable section 9 so as to be readily removed from the sec- 1 tion 9 or removable therewith. when said section 9 is detached from the fixed portion of the engine casing.

The ports 33 and 38 and 39, the of which project upwardly through the cylinder head are associated with coiled cushioning and l ting springs all whereby the val adapted to he closed. The sets of e r and exhaust valves are arranged to he depressed and opened at properly tervals by the action of the rocker arms 41 and -'i-2 connected with the upperof the lifter rods 13. The lifter rods are arranged a compartment or chamber 4L4; iiornaed on the outer side of the fixed section of the cylinder casing 3 and are fitted to slide vertically in guides hi and through guide openings 46 in the inder head 29, which cylinder head closes the upper end of he casing lower ends of said lifter rods heing Eprovided with the shoes 4;? for cooperation the valve actuating cams &8 on the valve actua ing cam shaft extending longitudinally through the base of the chamber 4. The cams d8 are arranged to operate the hits? rods at properly timed periods in the usual manner n the rotation of the shaft divhich carriesa gear 50 meshing with a drive gear 51 on the crank shaft 16, wherelo said cans shaft is driven, the arrangement losing such as to provide an overhead valve mechanism in which theicarn niechanism'is completely inclosed and protracted from dirt, dust injury, and in which the lifter rods are properly guided to always more (2 straight line, preventing ohjeetionahle wear and tear on the valve mes while reducing the amount of no' material degree over valve or that type such as occurs alter has heen in use for some time. The cheniher it is closed by cover plate 52, detaellably secured in position by screws or lastenings 53, upon removal oi? which access may he convemently obtained to the valve for the of cleaning or same or The gear 5d is partially Wlillhlil jects partially through a slot 54: therein, a hood or cover 55 detatiheh y secu ed gn t on by cyla the ehgine body and pro 34; are controlled by the vertically niovalole inlet and exhaust valves 56 being rovided to inclose the projecting portion 0 said gear and being readily removable to facilitate the application and removal of the gear from the cam shaft. The cams 48 are arranged to sweep in their orbits of motion through oil containing gutters 57 communicating through oil feed openings 58 with the exterior of the crank casing 2, whereby a splash feed of oil from the crank casing to the gutters is secured for'keeping the cams and shoes properly lubricated. As shown, the upper end of each cylinder 22 is provided with a cavity or recess 58, and this cavity or recess permits free downward movement of the inlet and exhaust valves and provides forthe formation of an explosion chamber of increased area to receive the explosive chargeand permit of the free escape of the exhaust gas, thus .insuring high power from the impulses of the working charges and a reduction of resistance to the discharge of the spent gas on the exhaust action.

It will be observed from the, foregoing description that by removing the detachable section 8'of the crank casing 2 and disconnecting the connecting rods from the wrist pins, the crank shaft with its applied parts will be readily accessible for cleaning, repairs or removal, and that the pistons and connecting rods will also be rendered freely accessible and removable for the application of new piston rings or other purposes. Furthermore, it-will be apparent that upon removing the detachable section 9 of the cylinder casing 3 all the cylinders will be rendered accessible for independent or conjoint removal, for the purpose of regrinding them, removing carbon, substituting a new cylinder or cylinders for a defective or worn out one, or for various other purposes. By removing both detachable sections 8 and 9 it will be evident that all the working parts in the crank casing and cylindercasing will be exposed for inspection, repairs or other purposes. By simply disconnecting the cylinder head 29 and the pivots of the rocker arms the entire set of valvesmay be removed to allow the valves and valve seats to be cleaned or reground and new valves to be applied whenever required, while upon removing the. cover plate 52 access may be obtained to the valve actuating mechanism to enable any work to be performed thereon. The construction of the engine with separable sections as described, furthermore enables economy and rapidity of production to be secured, as well as rapid assemblage of the parts in setting up the engine and rapid disassemblage of the parts'in taking down the engine, enabling the engine to be cleaned, repairs. to be made or new parts substituted for defective or worn out ones with a great economy of time and labor in correcting any defects and maintaining the engine in prime working order at all times.

In the event of the freezing'of the engine and burst-ingof a cylinder, or a cylinder being found defective, it will be evident that the damaged or defective cylinder may be removed and a new cylinder inserted in lts place, Without the necessity of discarding all or a plural number of cylinders such as is necessar when the cylinders are formed en bloc. l y the described construction of the cylinder casing and substantially spoolshaped cylinders an eflicient type of water jacket is produced whereby greater efficiency is secured in thecooling of the engine, and by the described construction of the cylinders with the cavities or chambers 58 greater power is secured in utilizing to the fullest extent the explosive force of the ignited charge. Other advantages of the invention, from the standpoint of economy of manufacture and maintenance, and ease of cleaning, repairs and the replacement of parts, will be evident from .the foregoing description without a further and extended explanation, and it will be seen that the in vention provides a simple and effective type of construction for securing these manifold advantages.

While we have shown in the present instance a four-cylinder type of engine, it is to be understood that the principle of the invention may be employed in anen ine 1 having any desired number of cylinders, and while we have also disclosed the use of an overhead valve mechanism any other suitable and preferred type of valve mechanism may be used.

Also while we have shown and described certain preferred structures and, types of means for carrying our invention into practical effect, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto except when particularly specified in the claims, as any substantial equivalents thereof may be employed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim:

1. In an engine, an elongated cylinder casing comprislng longitudinally separable parts, and substantially spool-shaped separate and independent cylinders removably clamped between the separable parts of said cylinder casing- 2. In an engine, a cylinder casing comprising relatively fixed and longitudinally separable sections forming a water jacket, said sections having mating semi-circnlar portions forming upper and lower cylinder receiving seats, and separate and independent substantially spool-shaped cylinders clamped in vertical alinement between said cylinder sections, said cylinders having their enlarged ends fitted in said seats.

3. In an engine, an engine body formed to provide a crank casing and a cylinder casing, each of said casings having vertically separable and removable longitudinal sections, a crank shaft journaled in the crank casing and held between ti'ons thereof, a series of c linders disposed in vertical alinement within the cylinder casing and clamped between the separable sections thereof, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting means between the crank shaft and pistons.

4:. In an engine, an engine body formed to provide a crank casing and a cylinder casing integral therewith, each of said casings being composed of relatively separable longitudinal sections, a crank shaft journaled in the crank casing and held between the separable sections. thereof, a plurality of separate and independent substantially spool-shaped cylinders disposed in vertical alinement within the cylinder casing and clamped between the separable sections thereof, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting means between the crank shaft and cylinders.

- 5. In an engine, an engine body formed to provide a crank casing and a cylinder casingintegral therewith, each of said casings being formed of separable longitudinal sections, a crank shaft journaled in and removably held between the sections of the crank casing, a plurality of separate and indewall of each of said casings being integral pendent cylinders disposed in vertical alinement within and clamped between the separable sections of the cylinder casing, said cylinders and the walls of said casing being relatively formed to provide a water jacket having communicating channels around the cylinders, pistons operating in the cylinders, and connecting means between the crank shaft and said pistons.

' 6. In an engine, an engine body formed to provide a crank casing and a cylinder casin integral therewith, said casings having re atively fixed connected walls at one side and removable walls at their opposite sides,

a crank shaft journaled in and held between the fixed'and removable walls of the crank casing, a plurality of cylinders disposed in alinement within the cylinder casing and clamped between the fixed and removable walls of said casing, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting means between the crank shaft and istons.

7. In an engine a body ormed to provide a crank casing and a cylinder casin the bottom wall of the crank casing an one side with each other, and said casings having their opposite side wall detachably connected with their fixed side walls and independ ently removable, a crank shaft j ournaled in the crank casing and held between the fixed and removable side walls thereof, a series of separate and independent pistons disposed in the separable seciseopee the cylinder casing and clamped between the fixed and removable side walls thereof, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting means between the crank shaft and pistons.

8. lfn an engine, a crank casing, a cylinder casing rising from and integral with said crank casing, said casings each being composed of relatively fixed and removable longitudinal side walls, a crank shaft journaled in the crank casing and removably held between the fixed and removable walls thereof, cylinders disposed in vertical alining relation within the cylinder casing and removably held between the relativelyiixed and removable walls thereof, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting rods between the crank shaft and pistons.

9. lln'an engine, an engine body forming a crank casing and cylinder casing integral therewith, said casings being divided on verde endent of each other, a crank shaft 1ourna ed in and removably held between the fixed and removable sections of the crank casing, pistons disposed within and removably held between the fixed and detachable sections of the cylinder casing, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting means between the pistons and the crank shaft.

10. lln an engine, a body formed to provide a crank casing and a cylinder casing rising from and integral with the crank casing, each of saidcasings comprising relatively fixed and removable longitudinally extending side sections, a crank shaft journaled in and removably held between the fixed and removable sections of the crank casing, substantially spool-shaped cylinders disposed within and having their enlarged provide a crank casing and a c linder casmg, each of saidcasings inclu ing a fixed longitudinal section rising from and integral with a bottom section and a corresponding' removable section, a cylinder head.

detachably mounted upon the cylinder .casing, a crank shaft journaled in the crank casing and removably held between thesections thereof, vertically dis osed cylinders arranged in alinement withln the cylinder casing and removablv held between the sectrons thereof, pistons operating in said cylinders, connecting means between the crank shaft and pistons, and inlet and exhaust valve mechanism, mounted upon the removable cylinder hea Y 1 12. In an engine, a cylinder casing ineluding fixed and removable longitudinal side sections, substantially spool-shaped cylinders held between said sections, each having its upper enlarged end provided with an expanded cavity, a cylinder head provided with inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the expandedchambers of the cylin ers and independently removable from said cylinder casing, valves controlling said ports and arranged to open downwardly mto -said expanded chambers, pistons operating in the cylinders, connecting means between the crank shaft and pistons, valve actuating mechanism, and connecting means between the crank shaft and valve actuating mechanism.

13. In an engine, a crank casing formed to provide an integral bottom and side wall portion anda removable wall portion, a cylinder casing formed to provide a fixed wall portion rising from the integral side and bottom wall portions of said crank casing and a removable wall portion supported on the removable wall portions of said crank casing, independently removable cylinders disposed in alinement above the crank casing, and clamped between the fixed wall portion and the removable wall portion of said cylinder casing, a crank shaft journaled in said crank casing, pistons operating in said cylinders, and connecting means between the crank shaft and said pistons.

14. In an engine, a crank casing formed to provide bottom and end walls integral with one of its side walls and with each other, and a removable side wall divided from the integral walls of the casing on horizontal and vertical lines, a cylinder casing having a fixed wall portion rising from and integral with the integral side wall of said crank casing and a removable wall portion supported on the removable wall of said crank casing, cylinders disposed in alinement above the crank casing and clamped between the fixed and removable walls of said cylinder casing, pistons operating in said cylinders, bearings clamped between the integral wall and the removable wall of said crank casing, a crank shaft mounted in said bearings, and connecting means between said crank shaft and said pistons.

15. The combination with an engine including an elongated crank casing, of a cylinder casing coextensively integral with said crank casing and having one of its walls removable therefrom, cylinders arranged within said cylinder casing, and flanges arranged at opposite ends of saidcylinders and providing a water space therebetween and between the walls of said cylinder casing.

eluding a crank casing, of a cylinder cas ing integral with said crank casing and having one ,of its side walls removable therefrom, and cylinders clamped between the walls of said cylinder casing, said cylinders each being formed with a groove intermediate their ends to provide water spaces between the adjacent walls of the grooves and the opposed walls of the cylinder casing.

17. The combination with an engine including a crank casing, of a cylinder casing having one of its side walls integral with 16. The combination with an engine in i a corresponding wall of the crank casing,

and the other of its side walls removably supported'on its corresponding wall of the crank casing, and independent cylinders clamped in alining relation within said cylinder casing, said cylinders each being formed with an annular groove intermediate their ends to provide water spaces between the walls of the grooves and. the opposed walls of said cylinder casing.

18. An engine having a crank casin formed with one of its side walls integra with the bottom wall and portions of the end walls thereof, the other of its side walls walls thereof, a cylinder casing having one of its side walls and portions of its end walls integrally formed with the integral side wall and end portions of said crank casing, the other of the side walls of said cylinder casing being supported on said removable side wall of said crank casing, independent means for securing the removable side walls of said crank casing and said cylinder casing in position, bearings clamped between the'integral side wal and the removable side wall of said crank casing, a crank shaft mounted in said bearings, cylinders clamped between the integral wall and the removable wall of said cylinder casing, pistons operating in said cylinders, and means connecting said pistons to said crank shaft.

20. An engine having a crank casing formed to provide an underlying bottom wall, a side wall integral with said bottom wall, a removable side wall, and end walls each divided on horizontal and vertical lines to provide one portion thereof integral with the integral side and bottom wall and another ortion thereof integral with said removab e side wall, and a crank shaft journaled between abutting faces of the end wall portions.

21. An engine having a crank casing formed to provide an underlying bottom wall of a width approximating the width oithe crank casing, a side wall integral with said bottom wall, a removable side wall, and end walls each divided on horizontal and vertical lines to provide one portion thereof integral with the integral side and bottom wall and another portion thereof integral with said removable side wall, and a crank shaft journaled between abutting faces of the end wall portions.

22. An engine having a crank casing ,tormed to provide an underlying wall; extending substantially the full width thereon a side wall integral with the bottom wall, a removable side wall, and end walls each divided onhorizontalgand vertical lines I to provide one} portionthereof integral with the integral side and bottom wall and another portion thereof integral with said removable wall portion, bearings clamped-between abutting faces of said end wall portions,-and a crank shaft journaled in said bearin 23. 11 engine havin an elongated crank casing formed to provi an underlying bottom wall extending substantially the fullwidth thereof, a si wall integral with the bottom wall, a removable side wall, and end walls each divided on horizontal and vertical 7 lines to provide one portion thereof integral bottom leec es horizontal and vertical lines to provide one portion thereof integral with the integral side and bottom wall and another portion thereof integral with said removable wall portion, bearings clamped between abutting faces of said end wall portions, and a crank shalt journaled in said bearings.

25. An engine having an elongated crank casing substantially clrcular in cross-section and formed to provide an underlying bottom wall extending substantially the full width. thereof, a side wall integral with the bottom wall,"a removable side wall, and end walls each divided on horizontal and. vertical lines to provide oneortion thereof integral with the integral si e and bottom wall and another portion thereof integral with said removable wall portion, bearings clamped between abutting faces of said end wall portions, and a crank shaft journaled in said bearings. I

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures.

JAMES WHITCOMB". GAROLD C. J. GRAY. 

